James Phillip Houtz1,2

Maleb. December 1836

(From the "History of Roanoke County, Salem, Roanoke City, Virginia and Representative Citizens" Edited and Compiled by William McCauley, A. M., 1902)

JAMES PHILIP HOUTZ, who stands among the leading men of the bar in Roanoke County, Virginia, is a resident of Salem. He was born December 31, 1836, and is a son of Henry and Susan (Brown) Houtz.
His paternal great-grandfather, Christian Houtz, was a native of Pennsylvania; and an early settler of Roanoke County. His grandfather, John Houtz, was also a Pennsylvanian by birth, and of German ancestry. He married Susannah Kline, and they settled in Roanoke County in the early part of the eighteenth century. He became one of the well-known farmers of this section. The maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was George Brown, a native of Roanoke County. He was a farmer and blacksmith. Henry Houtz, father of James Philip, was a farmer of Roanoke County. Hie died in 1861, at the age of 60 years. He married Susan Brown, and to them were born eight children, namely: Salome; Elizabeth; John C.; George B.; Catherine; James Philip; Maria M.; and Hester J.
James Philip Houtz, the subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm, and received his mental training in the common schools of Roanoke County, He also attended Roanoke College, and for several years taught school. During the Civil War he was a member of Company E, 42d Regiment, Virginia Infantry, enlisting as a corporal in 1861. Later he was promoted to be sergeant, and was subsequently elected captain. He took part in the hattles of Kernstown, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg and Spottsylvania Court House, and participated in several minor skirmishes. He was captured at the battle of Spottsylvania Court House and sent as a prisoner to Point Lookout. He was kept there seven months, and then taken to Elmira, New York, where he was kept four months. He was then exchanged and given a 30-days furlough. By the time his furlough had expired the war was practically over, and he remained at home. In 1867 Mr. Houtz attended the lectures of the law department of Washington and Lee College, at Lexington, Virginia. In 1869 he was admitted to the bar, and has since been engaged in the active practice of his profession at Salem. He is a lawyer of fine reputation and a man of great natural ability. Possessed of sound judgment and much fluency of expression, he has become known as one of the most earnest advocates in Roanoke County.
Mr. Houtz was married, in December, 1868, to Belle McCauley, daughter of John and Susan (Dingledine) McCauley, of Salem, Her father was for several years a member of the House of Delegates of Virginia. Mr. Houtz and his wife had one daughter, -— Susan, -— who is deceased. The subject of this sketch is a member of the Lutheran Church. Politically he is a Democrat.2